Make way for scientific mines

South Dakota State Roundup

After 126 years of unearthing gold, the Homestake mine in Lead
will transform into a state-of-the-art scientific laboratory, if
all goes as planned. With the mine scheduled to close this December,
the National Science Foundation recommended Homestake as the site
of a 7,400-foot-deep laboratory. The lab's location allows scientists
to research subatomic particles called neutrinos without interference
from cosmic rays.

Plans took a twist when Barrick Gold Corp. of Toronto announced
its $2.3 billion purchase of Homestake Mining Co. Homestake officials
insist that the merger has no bearing on the proposed $120 million
lab.

Operations would proceed under a national consortium of universities
including South Dakota institutions. Interim funding of $10 million
has been approved by Congress.